Details

Abstract / Summary

Islam vs. Islamism introduces the Islamic world's diversity, conflicts, and dilemmas --its origins, extraordinary creativity, and current crisis, the result of its unhappy encounter with Western modernity. Particular attention is given to Islamism, Islam's radically anti-modern and often violent revision that is causing turmoil in the Middle East and beyond. Islam vs. Islamism introduces the reader to the Islamic world, to its diversity and conflicts, and to possible solutions to those conflicts. Steering clear of either Islamophilia or Muslim-bashing, yet avoiding blandness, Demant explains the origins of Islam, its history, and its position in today's world. After a period of extraordinary expansion and creativity, and a long sequel of decline, the Islamic world is now in deep crisis, caused by Islam's unhappy encounter with the West and its modernity. Islamic societies have tried a variety of approaches to escape from their predicament, but the result has only been to deepen Muslim powerlessness and Muslims' feelings of frustration. Then came Islamism (Islamic fundamentalism) with its revolutionary but anti-modern proposal to refashion Muslim society after the Prophet's original model. Islamism has had unsettling results, first in Islam's heartlands, then along its multiple frontiers, and finally in confrontation with the West itself. Among the outcomes has been an ascending wave of terrorism. But violence is not the whole story. Extremism represents no more than a minority within Islam. Although co-existence with violent fundamentalists is a hopeless task, the questions Islamists raise are serious and evoke echoes in the hearts of many more Muslims. To prevent a war of civilizations, dialogue with the moderate majority of Muslims is more urgent than ever. This book is one step on that long road.

Field of Interest

Religion & Thought

Author

Peter R. Demant, 1951-

Copyright Message

Copyright © 2006 by Peter R. Demant

Content Type

General reference book

Duration

0 sec

Format

Text

Original Publication Date

2006

Page Count

318

Publication Year

2006

Publisher

Praeger Publishers

Place Published / Released

Westport, CT

Subject

Religion & Thought, Social Sciences, Belief Systems, Systèmes de croyances, النظم العقائدية, Glaubenssysteme, מערכות אמונה, Sistema de Creencias, Sistema de Crenças, Muslims, Attitudes toward, Fundamentalism, Islam

Keywords and Translated Subjects

Systèmes de croyances, النظم العقائدية, Glaubenssysteme, מערכות אמונה, Sistema de Creencias, Sistema de Crenças